How We’re Spending New Year’s Eve & Day + A Look Back at 2025

Can you believe it’s almost 2026? I hope your Christmas was so sweet. If you had kids with you, then I hope you got adequate rest afterwards (it’s tiring!). If you didn’t have your kids with you, then I hope you got busy making some new traditions and celebrating differently this year. I shared a little bit about our Christmas in THIS post.

MY OUTFIT ABOVE: Amazon Cable Knit Sweater Dress (8 color options) | VERY SIMILAR Brown Boots | SIMILAR Tortoise Earrings

Bob and I will be alone for NYE this year, so we’ll probably go out to one of our favorite restaurants and then come home and (as Bob says), “jammie up!” We’ll do our best to stay awake until midnight. Then, on New Year’s Day, our family always celebrates one of our favorite traditions! Typically, I host, but since we’re in an apartment right now, we’re heading to my son and daughter-in-law’s house this year instead. (Which means grandbaby time!🎉)

Yep! New Year’s Day is our annual family Dip Day. That basically means we whip up about five different dips and eat (nothing but) dip all day while watching copious amounts of football. I am not kidding you. To paint the picture for you—there is a lot of Velveeta involved, along with massive amounts of cream cheese, and of course, Fritos.

Please don’t be confused. It is not for the faint of heart! (And I mean that literally.) We do not mess around with a bunch of wussy veggies on this particular day. My little 1.5 qt. Dip Warmer (affectionately known as The Little Dipper at our house) is a must for making everyone’s favorite queso and keeping it warm.

Suzy’s Super-Easy Queso

1 lb. block of Velveeta cheese
(In an effort to save our arteries, I’ve switched to 2% Velveeta, and so far no one has noticed!)
1 can Wolf brand Lean Beef Chili (no beans)
(I tried to switch to turkey chili a few years ago, but there was a massive revolt!)
Fritos
(One year, I attempted to substitute baked tortilla chips for the Fritos, and it did not go well for me. Hahaha!)

Cut the cheese block into cubes and place it into the dip warmer (It will take about 30 minutes to be ready to eat). Add canned chili. Stir occasionally with a spatula. That is it. Yes, really. It is fantastic.

Looking Back at 2025

As I’ve been thinking about what this past year has meant, I kept coming back to you — our wonderful Empty Nest Blessed community. Today, I’m sharing our top 10 most-loved blog posts of 2025, the ones you read, shared, saved, and reached out to me about again and again.

If you’re a new empty nester or have been walking this season for a while, I hope revisiting these posts encourages your heart as we step into a brand-new year together.

Top 10 Empty Nest Blessed Blog Posts of 2025

If you missed any of these popular posts, now is the perfect time to catch up! Each one speaks to the heart of this season and offers encouragement, perspective, and hope for what’s ahead.

1. Downsizing in the Empty Nest – Our downsizing series was incredibly popular this year. From letting go of extra “stuff” to reimagining how we want to live in this next season, these posts sparked so many conversations. I’ll be continuing the series this January with a post about apartment living, so stay tuned.
2. The Story Behind My Book – Empty Nest Blessed: 60 Days to Finding Joy in the Empty Nest – Discover the heart and story behind my book Empty Nest Blessed: 60 Days to Finding Joy in the Empty Nest. I wrote it just for you.
3. Coping With Expectations & Disappointment in the Empty Nest – If the empty nest hasn’t looked the way you imagined it would, this post offers encouragement for navigating unmet expectations and finding peace when life feels different than planned.
4. The Two Little Words That Can Transform Your Marriage – Marriage can feel different in the empty nest. In this post, I share two simple words that can bring more connection, grace, and understanding into your relationship.
5. New to the Nest: When Someone New Joins the Family – When dynamics shift, and someone new joins the family, it can bring both joy and adjustment. This post offers perspective and encouragement for navigating those changes with grace.
6. At-Home Laser Technology: My Honest Review and Results – I’m sharing my experience with the Nira Laser, an at-home laser device, plus my before-and-after results. It’s one of those posts where you really do need to see it to believe it.
7. 8 Practical Ways to Be a Great Parent to Your Adult Kids – Parenting doesn’t end when kids grow up — it just looks different. This post shares practical ways to support your adult children while giving them the space they need. I also talk more about this season in my book.
8. The Life-Changing Link Between Joy, Happiness & Gratitude – This post explores how practicing gratitude can shift our mindsets and help cultivate lasting joy, even during seasons of change.
9. How to Keep the Spark Alive in Your Empty Nester Marriage – When the kids leave home, marriage shifts. This post encourages couples to lean into that change and reconnect in this quieter, meaningful season.
10. The Secret to Great Conversations With Your Adult Kids – This post offers guidance for having meaningful, respectful conversations with adult children while maintaining healthy boundaries and strong relationships. I elaborated on this post (big time) in my book, so if it’s a favorite of yours, I know you’ll enjoy my book!

As we step into the new year, I want to say thank you. Thank you for reading, for sharing your stories, for sending emails and messages, and for reminding me daily that this empty nest season is one we can walk through together.
As a small thank-you, I’m sharing an exclusive one-time-use 20% off code for my book through Sunday, January 4. Click HERE and use code NEWYEAR. 💗 (That makes it under $20!)

I’m so excited about what’s ahead for Empty Nest Blessed. There’s more encouragement, more conversation, and more joy to come in the year ahead.

Before you go, I’d love to hear from you. What would you like to see more of here in 2026?
Leave a comment below and let me know what topics would encourage you most.